Specific fuel products offered include Premium Dieselex-4, CountryMark 87 PLUS and CountryMark 91 PLUS.

Premium Dieselex-4 is CountryMark’s 50-cetane premium diesel fuel. CountryMark 87 PLUS is TOP TIER certified gasoline and comes with a 10-percent ethanol blend. CountryMark 91 PLUS is TOP TIER certified gasoline and ethanol free. Diesel Exhaust Fluid is available in the convenience store.

The CountryMark fuel at this new retail site is being supplied by North Central Co-op, a farmer-owned cooperative with headquarters in Wabash. North Central Co-op has 16 Energy Plus-24 fueling sites that carry CountryMark branded fuel products.

According to Mark Burch, North Central Energy Sales Specialist, this fuel site has been completely renovated. 

“It’s a really nice site that is already getting great traffic,” Burch explained.

Brad Swartzell, North Central Energy Marketing and Sales Director, said North Central is very proud to supply fuel to the only CountryMark retail location in the county.

“The station is very clean, easy to get to, and can accommodate small and medium size commercial trucks,” Swartzell said. “I think the community also appreciates that it is CountryMark fuel. They know that this is home-grown fuel from the Illinois Basin, which isn’t that far from Kewanna.” 

CountryMark’s line of premium liquid fuels begins with light, sweet American crude oil brought in from Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. It is refined to the highest specifications at the CountryMark refinery in Mt. Vernon, Ind. Fuel quality and integrity is further protected in distribution, as CountryMark owns its own pipeline distribution system. 

CountryMark supplies fuels and lubricants to member cooperatives throughout the Midwest, which then supply energy products to 100-plus CountryMark branded retail fuel stations and 200-plus delivery routes. 

“As a farmer-owned oil company, I think we approach fuel quality in a different way,” said CountryMark retail manager Gary Barrett. “We produce the quality of fuels that our farmer owners want to use in their own vehicles. Our premium diesel fuels are the only fuels in our marketplace that are consistently a 50-cetane product, which provides all of our diesel customers with more power, performance and reliability than they can get from comparable diesel products.” 

Barrett went on to note that CountryMark PLUS gasoline has earned TOP TIER certification. 

“Only 30 gasoline retailers in the nation have achieved this quality level,” said Barrett. “Seven of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world recommend TOP TIER gasoline because of what this level of fuel quality does for gasoline engine performance and engine life. That’s the quality of fuel our customers expect from CountryMark, and that is the quality of fuel we provide.” 

 

North Central Co-op is a farmer-owned cooperative, located in Wabash, Ind., and provides products and services related to fuel, propane, feed, grain, agronomy. North Central owns 15 fuel stations. For more information about North Central, visit http://www.ncc.coop.

CountryMark is an American-owned oil exploration, production, refining and marketing company. It supplies fuel to member cooperatives in Indiana that distribute this premium quality fuel through a network of more than 100 retail fuel stations, as well as more than 200 petroleum tankwagon and transport routes. CountryMark products fuel an estimated 65-70 percent of Indiana farmers and power about half the buses that deliver Indiana children to school each day. For more information about CountryMark, visit www.countrymark.com.

 

Local News Briefs

Stop signs to be added to two county intersections

The Pulaski County Highway Department will add stop signs Monday (April 28) to two county road intersections – one in southeast Rich Grove Township, and the second in northwest Monroe Township.

The new stop signs were approved April 14 in an ordinance adopted by the county commissioners.

Pulaski County Economic Development Summit April 29

The annual Pulaski County Economic Development Summit is set for 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, at the Knights of Columbus hall, Winamac. The event is hosted by the Pulaski County Community Development Commission.

The keynote speaker will be Stephanie Wells, president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute. The program will also feature the annual “State of the County Economy” address by CDC executive director Nathan Origer.

PMH seeks community input identifying health needs of local communities

Survey deadline May 17

WINAMAC - Pulaski Memorial Hospital has announced the launch of its 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive initiative aimed at identifying and addressing the most pressing health needs of our local communities.

“Community feedback is essential” said Hospital CEO Steve Jarosinski. ”PMH will be gathering input from residents, local organizations, community leaders, and even other area healthcare professionals to better understand the health challenges and opportunities across the region.”

PCPL lists programs, activities for April

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for April. They include a celebration of National Library Week, a kids’ caring for the environment program, a Ladybug Welcome Sign craft, and an Earth Day craft.

For more information on any program, call the library at 574-946-3432 or visit the library’s website at www.pulaskicounty.lib.in.us.

PCT invites photographers to capture spirit of county in photo contest

Participate, share perspective on county

Pulaski County Tribe (PCT) has announced the launch of the "Embrace the Pace Pulaski County" photography contest, inviting photographers of all ages and skill levels to showcase life in Pulaski County through the lens of their cameras.

“With cash prizes and the opportunity to have your work displayed county-wide, this contest is an exciting way to celebrate the beauty and community of Pulaski County,” said Brandi Larkin, PCT president.

 

Indiana News

Indiana State Parks offer free admission May 4 for ‘Welcome Weekend’

INDIANAPOLIS - Celebrate the start of the outdoor recreation season with free admission to all Indiana State Parks properties Sunday, May 4, the second day of “Welcome Weekend” and the opening day of Visit Indiana Week.

Find an Indiana State Parks property and what’s new there at on.IN.gov/stateparks. If you’ve never visited, on.IN.gov/dnr-welcome offers helpful tips. 

Braun signs package of executive orders to ‘Make Indiana Healthy Again’

INDIANAPOLIS (April 15) – Gov. Mike Braun Tuesday signed a landmark package of executive orders with initiatives to improve Indiana’s health and well-being.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz were in attendance to support Indiana’s initiative. Indiana now joins a number of states that have embraced, through legislation or executive orders, Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement.

2025 Indiana General Assembly: Bill Watch

Members of the Indiana General Assembly are working through proposed legislation on such topics such as education, health care, housing, property tax reform, responsible management of water resources, and much more. Gov. Mike Braun has now begun the process of signing passed legislation into law.

The 2025 legislative session runs January through April 29. This is a “long session” during which legislators will craft a two-year state budget. The status of bills under consideration, in both the House and Senate, may be viewed here: IGA | Bills for 2025 Session.  

 

Indiana Health News

Measles cases climb to 800 nationwide; 8 in Indiana

Also: respiratory illness updates

INDIANAPOLIS (April 21) — The Indiana Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of measles and working with local health officials to help stop the spread of infection. The current reported cases are connected to each other but at this time there are no known links to outbreaks in other states.

Eight cases have been reported in the Indiana, all in Allen County.

 

Post News

Pulaski Superior Court appears saved

INDIANAPOLIS (April 24) – Pulaski Superior Court and seven other rural courts have been spared from closure, following revisions made to HB1144 approved by both the state house and senate Thursday evening in the Indiana General Assembly.

The legislation is now pending the approval of Gov. Mike Braun.

Community Foundation awards $15,000 in grants

The Community Foundation of Pulaski County (CFoPC) has announced $15,000 has been awarded in grants to local nonprofits and community organizations.

The following projects and organizations have received funding:

  • $5,000 to Pulaski County Historical Society – “We’re Moving!”
  • $10,000 to Pulaski Memorial Hospital – for a Community Health Worker

Chamber presents Don, Lynn Darda with 2025 Halleck Award

The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce presented the 2025 Halleck Community Service Award to Don and Lynn Darda of Winamac at its annual award banquet Thursday evening (April 24), at the Winamac VFW.

The Dardas are both retired teachers in the Winamac schools and have been enthusiastic volunteers in a variety of projects throughout the years. 

Alliance Junior Board visits BraunAbility

The Alliance Bank Junior Board of Directors had the opportunity to visit BraunAbility in Winamac in April.

During their visit, the student directors were given a presentation about the company and had the chance to ask questions. They also had a tour of the facility, which allowed them to see the manufacturing process of vehicles equipped to assist individuals with disabilities.

Jury finds Monterey man guilty of attempted murder 

WINAMAC – A Pulaski County Circuit Court jury has found a Monterey man guilty of attempted murder in connection with a July 3, 2023 shooting in downtown Monterey.

Kenneth D. Ketcahm, 41, was also convicted on additional charges of criminal recklessness and pointing a firearm. The verdict was returned Monday (April 14).

Fatal crash on U.S. 421 under Investigation

MEDARYVILLE (April 15) – The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a crash which claimed the life of a Porter County man Tuesday on U.S 421 near the intersection of CR 800N in Cass Township.

The crash involved a dump truck and minivan. Release of the identity of the deceased minivan driver is pending the notification of family.